The life and times of the most recent parish priest of St Joseph`s and St Wilfrid`s, Gateshead.

Friday, 21 November 2014

St Wilfrid`s reprieved, Longbenton to close

The latest threat to St Wilfrid`s came after an electrical inspection revealed the need for re-wiring of the church which would cost much more than we have in the bank. Parishioners were expecting the worst because the need to rewire can be fatal (as in the case of St Joseph`s, Benwell where the parish was told it would close with just four days notice after it failed its electrical inspection). However with the Forward in Hope programme coming into play the episcopal council decided St Wiilfrid`s should be assessed along with every other parish in terms of its viability and so it was agreed to lend the parish the funds to have the electrical repairs done. I think our community of Nigerian sisters (Daughters of Divine Love) may have had a part to play as they are remarkably good at getting their prayers answered.

So St Wilfrid`s lives on once again. Not so fortunate is my former parish of SS Peter and Paul`s, Longbenton, which has been told it is to close. I hear the closing Mass will be on December 28th.

The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty warrior.” 13 Gideon answered him, “But sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?Judges 6.12